Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. Source: YouTube/WallieB26. Image Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. I believe this was a booklet/program they gave out on grand opening day. Part of it is missing. Source: YouTube/WallieB26. Image Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. The original appearance of the rink. Source: Yelp.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This was taken a few years back before Goodwill moved out. Source: YouTube/WallieB26. Image Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks. Clearer photo.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This was taken on the final day the public can see. Taken on 25 March 2018. Source: YouTube/WallieB26. Image Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks. Clear photo.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This was taken on the final day the public can see. Taken on 25 March 2018. Source: YouTube/WallieB26. Image Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks. Clear photo.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. Final photo before demolished. Source: Triblive Archives.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. Being demolished in April-May 2018. Source: Triblive Archives.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. Being demolished in April-May 2018. Source: Triblive Archives.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This is Benny Goodman, a famed band leader and orchestra conductor. He is pictured on left happily to sign his name autograph for fans. This photo belongs to a gentleman in the middle behind the two ladies. Source: Triblive Archives.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This part was part of the 1957 renovation on that the rink was on second floor. The Maple wood floor as seen in 2018.Diamond ball Video grab. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This part was part of the 1957 renovation on that the rink was on second floor. The Maple wood floor as seen in 2018. Video grab. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This part was part of the 1957 renovation on that the rink was on second floor. A concert was being set up back in 1990s or 2000s. Video grab. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This part was part of the 1957 renovation on that the rink was on second floor. The Maple wood floor as seen in 2018. Video grab. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This part was part of the 1957 renovation on that the rink was on second floor. Skates trashed? No, this was put together and donated to Goodwill thrift store. Donated in 2018. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. This part was part of the 1957 renovation on that the rink was on second floor. This was Concession Stand. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA. Pretty good video to document the closed rink. Quite a crowd to see the closed rink. The floor was in good shape after all those years abandoned! That is surprising because it must have had climate controlled in the rink floor area and no leaks. Source: YouTube/WallieB26.
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh St, Cheswick, PA
Ches-A-Rena 1216 Pittsburgh Street, Cheswick, Pennsylvania was a roller rink for a time before they closed and demolished. This rink was very unique in design both interior and exterior. Sadly, they did not continue with this rink. Could have lasted many more years as long as the Pantheon still standing in Roma, Italia (Rome, Italy).
That is how much long skaters would love to have for a rink as this one. This is unique as I tell you.
It was a shopping plaza. The design appeared to be very much a poured concrete design especially for the rink a semi-Quonset Hut but the interior appeared more like Segmental Arch. But the exterior showed it was like Quonset Hut. It has that "check" look with the arch on each end. It does look more like an Omega in Greek symbol, Ω.
The building was in fact a World War II aircraft hanger surplus that was used during the War. The building then was likely relocated and repurposed immediately after the War. It stood for 70 years.
The skating rink first opened on 25 July 1947 by Elmer and Victoria Dattola, the operators of the rink. But the Dattola Family eventually sold the building in 1998 and the new owners did not do anything. Eventually sold to Developer named Brian Clark.
The skating rink moved to the second floor likely in 1957, and a grocery store, a Thorofare, moved into the bottom. Over the decades, it evolved to have multiple businesses on the bottom floor, most recently a Goodwill store, and a daycare upstairs.
It was an abandoned rink for about TWENTY years! That would date back to about 1998.
Previous owners in the early 2000s had a hard time getting the space to work as a music and event venue according to Triblive archives.
The Developer, Brian Clark said the cost of making repairs to the building to make it usable was cost prohibitive. Considering this was concrete and repairing concrete is not fun and usually have to be replaced completely. Why you think the bridges near you with Poured Concrete gets to replace every few years? The potholes are worse with the patch job of Asphalt covering the potholes on concrete paved on bridges especially the bridge has a curve! (I know! The interstate 81 bridges and exchange with Old Liverpool Road in Syracuse is horrible with Poured Concrete potholes covered with Asphalt and it can be dangerous because you could slip right off the bridge, you hear that, Syracuse and Town of Salina?! It is right by Onondaga Lake and Destiny USA/Carousel Center Mall). Same with this building. I can understand why the developer said it would be difficult and expensive.
That one day tour in March 2018, on the day of 24 March 2018, it was open to public to see the old rink but skating was not allowed. The rental skates were donated to Goodwill, a thrift store chain and I am sure people bought those skates. Then after that, the fire department from Cheswick, Pennsylvania invited other nearby departments to practice a fire and rescue on a large scale. Actual running fire and hose spraying inside and rescue volunteers to keep up skills as fire fighters and rescuers.
Then the building was demolished for a new plaza.
The Interior.
The 1947 opening - The skating rink was on the ground floor with Non-painted Maple wood floor. I have no idea what the original look like because I do not see the photo of the rink at the time. Of course the ceiling was higher at the time because it was all just ground floor. They had more room for everything compared to the 1958 renovations.
The 1958 Renovations - The view was different than the original because they relocated the rink floor to second floor. I believe the owner/operator wanted more business making money so they added the second floor and put that rink on second floor. They may have had extension to the side above where the businesses were but I am not sure. The final tour showed only where the rink was.
Of course, they used the same rink floor was it was on ground floor. They relocated the Log Cabin style floor which was much easier to rebuilt.
They had more room than the 1990s version of renovations to house the concerts by adding two stages. One at the end toward the back and the right side. There was concession stand as well.
The building was not designed to have ADA accessibilities in that building. No elevator to reach second floor.
The Exterior.
The 1947 opening - The original appearance was as you can see in the old Black-and-White photo and the Grand Opening booklet program has the design as Quonset Hut style hanger built. Full of Pour Concrete molded in the wood to make that shape. It was grand at the time with very unique look. The main door was on the left side when you are standing from the edge of the road if you were to take a picture. It had popular thick fonts both which appeared to be almost Ariel with flair font. It was very clean design and the concrete canopy. This is true Mid-Century Modern Googie style. A mix. One of the earliest Googies design. Good thing Douglas Haskell did not stop and complained and would have called this style, "Ches-A-Rena style" instead of "Googie's" which was named after a restaurant of the same name, "Googie's" On side note, Googie's Restaurant was about Googies.. as you would doodle on a piece of paper when you are bored. Generally, you get the idea.
It was very clean design for this building at the time.
The 1958 Renovations - The 1958 renovations brought out major changes as the owner-operator of the rink needed business as roller skating at the time were started to decline which happened in 1960. I am not sure what their reason for the expansion to add a plaza along the side of the rink and adding 2nd floor. The roller rink was relocated from ground floor which was bigger and moved to second floor. It was a loss of a little bit of square footage in that second floor but not much.
They added an extension on the right side of the building for the stair to the second floor where the roller rink was. That part was added in 1958. It is a long walk up the steps. They had plenty of room inside the building before the 1958 with high ceiling however, with adding the second floor, they still have room to leave up a mirror ball and lights for skating rink and for concerts after late 1990s.
The exterior had second floor with much windows and I was wondering if that part was part of the rink OR was it more shops and stores on second floor section?
They renovated with Orange Bricks, and 1950s style plaza building materials such as Silver trims for windows, doors, etc. It really ruined the original look of 1947 appearance.
I was a little confused. About the second floor where the main doors to the rink. Was it way up front or was it at the rear where the glass doors were where the main stage was. I need clear on this.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-Painted, Clear Maple Hardwood. Floor Layout: LOG
Building Size: N/A. Built: c. 1942. Renovations: 1947 (converted to rink), 1957 (adding storefronts). Demolished: April and May 2018
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses in Pour Concrete, Pour Concrete - Walled Plaza.
Roof: Semi-Quonset Hut/Segmental Arch.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 25 July 1947 to c. 1998.
The building - c. 1942 to May 2018.
Rink - 25 July 1947 to c. 1998.
Reason for Closure:
The building - Beyond repairs.
Rink - N/A. (Abandoned).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Triblive Archives - Last look before demolished.
Triblive Archives - demolished.
Yelp - Ches-A-Rena Skating Rink.
Worth to visit:
None. Demolished. You missed it. It was on 24 March 2018!
Date of issue: 20 May 2022.
For office use only: 16/1.
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with differences result between two sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding.
To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7
That is how much long skaters would love to have for a rink as this one. This is unique as I tell you.
It was a shopping plaza. The design appeared to be very much a poured concrete design especially for the rink a semi-Quonset Hut but the interior appeared more like Segmental Arch. But the exterior showed it was like Quonset Hut. It has that "check" look with the arch on each end. It does look more like an Omega in Greek symbol, Ω.
The building was in fact a World War II aircraft hanger surplus that was used during the War. The building then was likely relocated and repurposed immediately after the War. It stood for 70 years.
The skating rink first opened on 25 July 1947 by Elmer and Victoria Dattola, the operators of the rink. But the Dattola Family eventually sold the building in 1998 and the new owners did not do anything. Eventually sold to Developer named Brian Clark.
The skating rink moved to the second floor likely in 1957, and a grocery store, a Thorofare, moved into the bottom. Over the decades, it evolved to have multiple businesses on the bottom floor, most recently a Goodwill store, and a daycare upstairs.
It was an abandoned rink for about TWENTY years! That would date back to about 1998.
Previous owners in the early 2000s had a hard time getting the space to work as a music and event venue according to Triblive archives.
The Developer, Brian Clark said the cost of making repairs to the building to make it usable was cost prohibitive. Considering this was concrete and repairing concrete is not fun and usually have to be replaced completely. Why you think the bridges near you with Poured Concrete gets to replace every few years? The potholes are worse with the patch job of Asphalt covering the potholes on concrete paved on bridges especially the bridge has a curve! (I know! The interstate 81 bridges and exchange with Old Liverpool Road in Syracuse is horrible with Poured Concrete potholes covered with Asphalt and it can be dangerous because you could slip right off the bridge, you hear that, Syracuse and Town of Salina?! It is right by Onondaga Lake and Destiny USA/Carousel Center Mall). Same with this building. I can understand why the developer said it would be difficult and expensive.
That one day tour in March 2018, on the day of 24 March 2018, it was open to public to see the old rink but skating was not allowed. The rental skates were donated to Goodwill, a thrift store chain and I am sure people bought those skates. Then after that, the fire department from Cheswick, Pennsylvania invited other nearby departments to practice a fire and rescue on a large scale. Actual running fire and hose spraying inside and rescue volunteers to keep up skills as fire fighters and rescuers.
Then the building was demolished for a new plaza.
The Interior.
The 1947 opening - The skating rink was on the ground floor with Non-painted Maple wood floor. I have no idea what the original look like because I do not see the photo of the rink at the time. Of course the ceiling was higher at the time because it was all just ground floor. They had more room for everything compared to the 1958 renovations.
The 1958 Renovations - The view was different than the original because they relocated the rink floor to second floor. I believe the owner/operator wanted more business making money so they added the second floor and put that rink on second floor. They may have had extension to the side above where the businesses were but I am not sure. The final tour showed only where the rink was.
Of course, they used the same rink floor was it was on ground floor. They relocated the Log Cabin style floor which was much easier to rebuilt.
They had more room than the 1990s version of renovations to house the concerts by adding two stages. One at the end toward the back and the right side. There was concession stand as well.
The building was not designed to have ADA accessibilities in that building. No elevator to reach second floor.
The Exterior.
The 1947 opening - The original appearance was as you can see in the old Black-and-White photo and the Grand Opening booklet program has the design as Quonset Hut style hanger built. Full of Pour Concrete molded in the wood to make that shape. It was grand at the time with very unique look. The main door was on the left side when you are standing from the edge of the road if you were to take a picture. It had popular thick fonts both which appeared to be almost Ariel with flair font. It was very clean design and the concrete canopy. This is true Mid-Century Modern Googie style. A mix. One of the earliest Googies design. Good thing Douglas Haskell did not stop and complained and would have called this style, "Ches-A-Rena style" instead of "Googie's" which was named after a restaurant of the same name, "Googie's" On side note, Googie's Restaurant was about Googies.. as you would doodle on a piece of paper when you are bored. Generally, you get the idea.
It was very clean design for this building at the time.
The 1958 Renovations - The 1958 renovations brought out major changes as the owner-operator of the rink needed business as roller skating at the time were started to decline which happened in 1960. I am not sure what their reason for the expansion to add a plaza along the side of the rink and adding 2nd floor. The roller rink was relocated from ground floor which was bigger and moved to second floor. It was a loss of a little bit of square footage in that second floor but not much.
They added an extension on the right side of the building for the stair to the second floor where the roller rink was. That part was added in 1958. It is a long walk up the steps. They had plenty of room inside the building before the 1958 with high ceiling however, with adding the second floor, they still have room to leave up a mirror ball and lights for skating rink and for concerts after late 1990s.
The exterior had second floor with much windows and I was wondering if that part was part of the rink OR was it more shops and stores on second floor section?
They renovated with Orange Bricks, and 1950s style plaza building materials such as Silver trims for windows, doors, etc. It really ruined the original look of 1947 appearance.
I was a little confused. About the second floor where the main doors to the rink. Was it way up front or was it at the rear where the glass doors were where the main stage was. I need clear on this.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-Painted, Clear Maple Hardwood. Floor Layout: LOG
Building Size: N/A. Built: c. 1942. Renovations: 1947 (converted to rink), 1957 (adding storefronts). Demolished: April and May 2018
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses in Pour Concrete, Pour Concrete - Walled Plaza.
Roof: Semi-Quonset Hut/Segmental Arch.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 25 July 1947 to c. 1998.
The building - c. 1942 to May 2018.
Rink - 25 July 1947 to c. 1998.
Reason for Closure:
The building - Beyond repairs.
Rink - N/A. (Abandoned).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Triblive Archives - Last look before demolished.
Triblive Archives - demolished.
Yelp - Ches-A-Rena Skating Rink.
Worth to visit:
None. Demolished. You missed it. It was on 24 March 2018!
Date of issue: 20 May 2022.
For office use only: 16/1.
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with differences result between two sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding.
To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7